[mcmama]

This is fabulous.

Montclair State in NJ has issued mandatory cell phones to everyone. If a student is in distress or anticipates being in a dangerous situation, they can alert campus security, or they can program an alarm for a designated time. If the alarm is received, campus security can find them with a gps device in the phone, and either go to them or alert local police if they are on vacation/off campus.

They can also use the phone for mass security alerts - much better than email.

I know realtors who have shown houses in unfamiliar neighborhoods, at odd hours - When I did that, I always arranged for someone to call me during the showing, and if I did not respond, to call the police with the address. This makes it much more instant.

I think this is the way of the future. Sure hope other colleges do the same. This plus the campus blue light phone system should really make campuses much more safe - and help students avoid trouble.

[twinzplus3]

Hey. . .my babysitter goes to Montclair state. I wonder if she got one! I'll have to ask her. But I agree. . .it makes a lot more sense.

[poliscmjr]

That's a fabulous idea! Some good ideas do come out of NJ!

[mcmama]

It is the first school anywhere to require this, and there is a fee of around $500 for it tacked onto tuition. When you look at all the frivolous student activity fees, this is one that makes sense to me. Plus, most people are going to pay for cell phone access anyway, and these work perfectly well for the kind of texting and im that college students do. Also, you can send a signal to your professor that you just don't get something. So they are hooked up to an on campus network. Sprint is powering these. Good for sprint - not my favorite cell phone company, but they seem to know how to tailor their product to the uses of young people.

It will be interesting to see how this works. I hope other colleges will follow suit. I like this being mandatory, so that the whole campus and campus community is networked.

[jadis]

As a college student myself and a TA, I would actually hate for something like this to be implemented at my school. We already have a big enough problem with people using their cell phones during class (and texting during lectures....god I hate that), and using them to cheat. I actually would only be somewhat for it if the texting feature was removed altogether- but even then I am swayed more by the negative. Universities shouldn't be in the electronics business.

Also, most crime that occurs on a university campus won't be fixed by making cellphones mandatory. Having a cell onhand won't stop date rape (the gross majority of which isn't even reported), drug use, etc- and in most cases people won't think of their cells until it is too late. I think it's just the University's way of pretending to address security issues w/out really addressing them.

On a side note- if I was a prof I would actually refuse to take calls/texts from students. Not only is it impersonal, but you don't get a sense of what their question/problem really is. Some of the profs I have worked for only answer questions during office hours- if the student cannot make it during office hours, they must contact them and alternate arrangements will be made. This will be my policy if I ever teach- it works out so much better for the prof and the student.

[Tsunshine]

I actually agree with Jadis. I think it's a waste of money. Many parents buy cell phones for their college students using a family plan, especially if they are far away. If the school requires their cell phone this doesn't work. Also I don't personally own a cell phone and wouldn't want one even if I was in college. I would hate it if the college required I get one or pay for one even if I didn't use it. Also $500 for a cell phone is outrageous, especially since tuition fees are paid every year or even semester. As for calling a professor, that should only be done during office hours not at the studen't convenience.

[mcmama]

This is instant hookup. It means that the students are networked, so they can get instant messages about emergency closings when they are mobile. And the gps factor is great. It really helps if they are in trouble.

I think the phone signal is for when they are in large lecture classes and something is over their heads. It sends a signal - sort of like feedback.

I think it is a great tool. Instead of paying this for cell phone access anyway, they get all this great stuff. This could replace laptops, to some extent. The possibilities are wonderful.

[jadis]

I agree that 500$ is WAAAY to steep for a cell- also, if there was no way to opt out of it, I would be PISSED. For someone who now pays her own tuition, 500$ is 2 months worth of groceries. I would rather eat than have a cell I don't want (or in this case, one I already have under my fiance's plan, which is a WHOLE lot cheaper)

I also think that as soon as the media picks up on one story that is tragic and unlikely, the moral panic that ensues convinces everyone that their children are in danger, and that something *must* be done. Honestly- how often are Universities closed, or put in lockdown mode? Or a college student kidnapped (you would think that the first thing they would do would be to search for and ditch the cell anyway)? Yes, we all remember the recent tragedies- but would a cell really prevent that? I have a hard enough time now hearing mine when it rings or I get a text- or even remembering to bring it with me when I leave the house.

Oh god- I can just imagine if the phones did send a signal whenever someone didn't understand something, missed a word, or just wasn't paying attention. It would be chaos. That's what TAs and office hours are for.

[QueenAngie]

Well, I am not a college student,
but as the mother of 2 college students (18 & 21 yos) ......

gotta say, it would make me feel better with the GPS and instant alerts for my sons (or if they were daughters)
if there was a tornado, fire, mass shooting, etc.

Our sons both have cellphones they carry 24/7.

******

For those mature college students, as Jadis notes, it would be
a hassle and expensive.

*********

What do you think?

[MissyChrissy]

My school has instant text messaging alerts. We opt to have it (or not) and supply them with our email address and/or cell phone number. They came out with it relatively fast after the Virginia Tech shootings.

Also, most cell phones do have "locater" capabilities on them. You have to turn them on, and I have on all 5 of my phones. On ours (Verizon) the locater feature turns on automatically when you call 911.

I think the 500 is a good deal if that includes unlimited texting/phone usage/whatever the school offers. The students shouldn't have to pay any additional amount (like peak time). THEN it's a good deal and I'd just take my kids off my plan when they went to school if that was offered.